Tarawneh calls to support Jordan's sustainable development bid

AMMONNEWS - Speaker of the Lower House, Atif Tarawneh, on Wednesday said the parliament will help overcome obstacles facing UN's developmental programs, which backed Jordan's political reforms.

During his meeting with the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Jordan, Andros Peterson, attended by the regional director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Sarah Frier, Tarawneh deemed these programs as significant, and carried out on the ground with clear goals and plans, especially in relation to alleviating poverty and unemployment.

On refugees, he called on the international community to support Jordan that has borne the brunt of hosting large numbers of refugees.

What the international community offered to Jordan to address the refugees' problem covers only 30% of their actual needs, while the Kingdom spends around 25% of its GDP on tackling this ordeal, Tarawneh said, adding "the international community should focus on the country's development needs, as well as its efforts to address poverty and unemployment, and to reinvigorate health and education sectors".

Achieving sustainable development in all fields can help downplay extremism and radicalism among the youth, Tarawneh said, pointing out to Jordan's efforts to preserve the country's security and stability despite the the Mideast turbulence.

In turn, Peterson lauded Amman's leading role on regional and global arenas, and said the UN has persistently sought in a lot of international parliamentarian occasions to strengthen ties of UNDP with the Jordanian parliament.

He said his body's programs in the past 5 years aim to foster Jordan's sustainable development, and highlighted the importance of joint cooperation and coordination at all levels.

Pederson explained the UN is well aware of Jordan's woes as it has already hosted multiple refugee waves, especially from Syria, a situation that needs support and assistance to achieve its sustainable development bid, to axe poverty and unemployment, and to boost its infrastructure, education, and health sectors.